On 5 May 1980, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [CDF] issued its Declaration on Euthanasia in order to emphasize the value of the human person and their right to life in light of recent developments of medicine and science. This declaration would become a foundational document for the official teaching of the Catholic Church regarding the morality of euthanasia.
This declaration is especially concerned with the issue of suffering and its relationship to the question of euthanasia. While the CDF reiterates the absolute prohibition on the killing of an innocent, even if that person is suffering or dying; the use of medicine to relieve pain is permissible even if such medicine might shorten the life of the patient if no other means of easing pain is available. The intention, however, must be to ease suffering, not to shorten life. Also, no one is required to take extraordinary means to prolong life.
Life is a gift of God, and on the other hand death is unavoidable; it is necessary, therefore, that we, without in any way hastening the hour of death, should be able to accept it with full responsibility and dignity. It is true that death marks the end of our earthly existence, but at the same time it opens the door to immortal life. Therefore, all must prepare themselves for this event in the light of human values, and Christians even more so in the light of faith.
Declaration on Euthanasia
On 4 May 1493, Pope Alexander VI issued the bull Inter caetera which granted to Spain sovereignty over all land from a pole-to-pole line 100 leagues west and south of any of the islands of the Azores or the Cape Verde Islands, unless it had previously been claimed by another Christian ruler. Therefore, Portugal retained control over Brazil but the rest of North and South America would fall under the sovereignty of Spain. Pope Alexander VI was himself born in Spain and generally very favorable to the Spanish government.
While Spain was pleased with this bull, Portugal was not as Inter caetera only mentioned Spain’s right to claim new territory – not the rights of the Portuguese. This disagreement would later be resolved with the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494.
While Spain and Portugal recognized this division of control, it was never accepted by the other European colonial powers.
More recently there has been a push by those who see the history of Spanish colonization as a disaster for the native peoples for a repeal of Inter Caetera. They accuse Inter Caetera of attempting to provide justification for a policy of subjugation and oppression. Indeed on Columbus Day/International Indigenous Peoples Day, some will burn copies of Inter Caetera in protest.
Inter Caetera
Modern day hostility to Inter Caetera
On 3 May 1512, the Fifth Lateran Council opened under the authority of Pope Julius II with the participation of fifteen cardinals, two patriarchs, ten archbishops, fifty-six bishops, abbots, generals of religious orders and several ambassadors. Pope Julius would die while the council was in session and Pope Leo X would continue the council until its close on 16 March 1517.
Pope Julius had sworn an oath to call a council, but as he delayed to fulfill this vow some bishops organized their own council in Pisa with the support of French king Louis XII. Seeing this as a rival to his authority, Pope Julius denounced the council and called for his own council at the Lateran. While much of the initial motivation for the Fifth Lateran Council was to condemn the actions and decisions at the earlier council of Pisa, the Fifth Lateran also spoke of the need for reform within the Church – particularly on improving the quality of priests and prohibiting simony in the election of popes. But not much action was taken in this regard.
Fifth Lateran Council
On 2 May 1312, Pope Clement V issued the bull Ad Providum which gave all the land and wealth which formerly belonged to the Knights Templar to the Knights of Malta so that it could continue to be used for the aid of pilgrims. Clement wanted to ensure that the wealth of the Templars did not fall into the hands of French king Philip IV who had been the driving force in the movement to suppress the Templars and very much desired their property. However, in many parts of Europe the property of the Templars was simply confiscated by the secular authority and not given to the Knight of Malta/Hospitallers.
It is generally believed that the primary reason for the attack against the Templars was the economic situation of Philip IV who owed the Knights Templar a large sum of money. Philip also need additional funds for his war against England. He therefore accused the Knights of heresy and pressured Clement V to dissolve the order on 22 March 1312 in the hopes of not only no longer having to pay back his loan but of also being able to confiscate Templar property.
Knights Templar
On 1 May 880, Basil I dedicated the Nea Ekklesia. The Ottoman Empire would later use the church to store gun powder and the church would be destroyed when it was struck by lightning in 1490.
The Nea Ekklesia, or New Church, was designed to exemplify the construction projects of Basil and his wish to renew the Byzantine Empire. It was dedicated to Jesus, the archangel Michael, the Prophet Elijah, the Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas. Basil had a special devotion to the Prophet Elijah because it was claimed that he appeared to Basil’s mother in a dream and encouraged her to sent her son to Constantinople where he would have a exceptional future.
The five domed church is believed to have been built in a cross-in-square structure and was the model of other churches throughout the Byzantine Empire. It was Basil’s Hagia Sophia and he designed it so that it could be seen from all over the city. It contained a spectacular mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, an iconostasis of gold and silver and a high altar of “a material more precious than gold”, as Photius described it. There was also a large mosaic of the Virgin Mary, “extending her pure hands towards us and granting to the Emperor long life and victory over his enemies.”
3-D reprodution of the Nea Ekklesia
On 30 April 1991, Priests for Life was approved as a Private Association of the Faithful by Archbishop John Quinn of San Francisco.
Priests for Life was founded by Fathers Lee Kaylor and Francis P. Filice to work for the promotion of life particularly through the end of abortion and euthanasia. It seeks to encourage and educate priests, bishops, and deacons in the promotion of life within their ministry. While the membership is primarily Catholic clergy, there are also lay auxiliary membership. Its present head is Father Frank Pavone.
In 2003, it received NGO status in the United Nations.
Priests for Life
On 29 April 1429, Joan of Arc arrived to begin lifting the siege of Orléans and turn the tide of the Hundred Years’ War.
France and England had been fighting for control of France off and on since 1337 and after the English victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 the advantage in the struggle was definitely on the side of the forces of English regent John Plantagenet. The city of Orléans was the last fortress preventing access of the English forces into central France.
The English forces began the siege of Orléans on 12 October 1428 and so had surrounded the city for six months before Joan arrived in apparent fulfillment of the prophecies that an armed maid would deliver France.
Prior to her arrival, Joan sent the English forces besieging Orléans two letters demanding that the siege be lifted and that the English return to their homeland or else she would lift up a “…war cry against them that would last forever.”
When Joan arrived at Orléans she quickly began to pushing back the English forces, lifting the siege on 8 May 1429. This success would inspire many other French to join the army of the dauphin Charles. However, Joan would not live to see the end of the Hundred Years’ War. She would later be captured and killed by the English army on 30 May 1432. The last battle of the Hundred Years’ War would be fought in 1453.
More on the siege of Orleans
On 28 April 1611, the University of Santo Tomas was founded in the Philippines by Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Miguel de Benavides, O.P. It is one of the oldest universities in the world. It is also the largest Catholic university in the world.
Founded to prepare seminarians and called Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, it was later named in honor of Saint Thomas Aquinas. It was raised to the rank of a university in 1645. In 1947, Pius XII made it “The Catholic University of the Philippines”.
The inspiration for the university began with the first Bishop of the Philippines, Bishop Domingo de Salazar, who wanted a college/university similar to those in Mexico. Bishop Benavides provided the first resources for the university when he bequeathed his library and property for the university’s foundation. Much of the effort promoting the early university was through the Dominican missionaries who came to the Philippines.
The university has had a very interesting history – visited by two popes, favored by the Spanish royalty, and serving as a prison camp during WWII.
History of University of Santo Tomas
On 27 April 1521, Spanish forces under the leadership of Ferdinand Magellan were defeated by the forces of Lapu-Lapu at Mactan Island. Ferdinand Magellan was killed.
Magellan had already achieved the conversion of the Philippino chieftain of Cebu to Catholicism and planned to bring Catholicism to the other peoples as well as placing the Philippines under the authority of the King of Spain. When Lapu-Lapu refused to recognize Magellan’s authority, Magellan decided to go to war against him.
Magellan’s numbers were around 49, those of Lapu-Lapu were more than 1,500 and in the battle Magellan was slain. His body was never recovered. The rest of Magellan’s crew would complete the first circumnavigation of the globe.
While Magellan is honored for bringing Catholicism to the Philipines, Lapu-Lapu is honored as a symbol against foreign occupation.
Battle of Mactan
April 27, 2010 – 10:47 am
In the late 16th century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Orthodox bishops faced some serious problems and would conclude that union with the Roman Catholic Church was the best solution.
Links:
Articles Concerning Union with the Roman Church
Map of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1600
One of the best books on this subject matter is “Crisis and Reform: The Kyivan Metropolitanate, the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the Genesis of the Union of Brest” by Fr. Borys Gudziak
Photo – Image of the medal Clement VIII struck after the Union with the Ruthenian Church was established
Be sure to check out the CUTH blog for more on the history of the Catholic Church
Send e-mail questions and comments to catholicunderthehood@gmail.com or leave voice mail at 1 740 936 4354
To listen, just click on the link below:
#231 – The Union of Brest
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